Phacoemulsification Needle Frequency Switching for Heat Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current phacoemulsification procedures face challenges in efficiently breaking and removing cataractous lenses due to issues with cavitation, leading to partial or total occlusions and increased heating at the corneal incision, which affect the followability and effectiveness of the surgical process.
Innovation Solution
A phacoemulsification device that switches between ultrasonic and high-ultrasonic frequencies using a hollow titanium needle with a piezoelectric transducer, creating standing waves with a node of minimum amplitude to reduce cavitation and heat generation, enhancing tissue penetration and followability by modulating between frequencies based on occlusion detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ultrasonic frequency actuation is used to break the cataracteous lens, then emulsification effectiveness is improved, but cavitation occurs leading to occlusions and increased heating at the corneal incision
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two ultrasonic frequencies (first and second frequencies) based on real-time detection of occlusions. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain effective emulsification while avoiding the harmful cavitation effects that occur at a single fixed frequency, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter (ultrasonic frequency) between two distinct values. By switching between the first ultrasonic frequency and the second ultrasonic frequency, the system modifies the cavitation characteristics to reduce harmful effects while preserving emulsification effectiveness, thus addressing the contradiction between productive output and harmful byproducts.
2Productivity
If high-power ultrasonic actuation is used to improve lens breaking efficiency, then productivity increases, but heating at the corneal incision increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic switching between two ultrasonic frequencies rather than continuous operation at a single frequency. This periodic action between different frequency states allows the tissue to experience varying cavitation intensities, reducing cumulative heating at the corneal incision while maintaining overall lens breaking efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device improves followability and reduces heating at the corneal incision by generating smaller, more uniformly distributed cavitation bubbles, allowing for more effective emulsification and aspiration of lens tissue with reduced occlusions.
Implementation Method 1
The piezoelectric transducer can be made to periodically expand and contract at a high-ultrasound frequency that rings the hollow titanium needle with a standing wave
Implementation Method 2
the two frequencies produce different surgical effects when used to emulsify a cataracteous lens
Implementation Method 3
rings the hollow titanium needle with a standing wave having a node of minimum amplitude residing in the substantially cylindrical portion
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical instrument and method, for example to accomplish phacoemulsification, are disclosed. The surgical instrument includes a handpiece that includes a piezoelectric transducer. A hollow titanium needle having a substantially cylindrical portion and a free distal tip is attached to the handpiece by way of a threaded supported end structure. The piezoelectric transducer is driven by a circuit to periodically expand and contract at a high-ultrasound frequency that rings the hollow titanium needle with a high-ultrasonic frequency standing wave having a node of minimum amplitude residing in the substantially cylindrical portion between the supported end structure and the free distal tip, and to periodically expand and contract at an ultrasound frequency that rings the hollow titanium needle with an ultrasonic frequency standing wave, the circuit adapted to between the high-ultrasonic frequency and the ultrasonic frequency.